Sella & Mosca Alghero Liquoroso Riserva Anghelu Ruju 2009

Anghelu Ruju is a fortified red wine made exclusively from Cannonau grapes. It originates from the area around Alghero. The history of the winery that produces it, Sella & Mosca, is centuries-old. In fact, the settlement in the Alghero area of two Piedmontese men, Sella and Mosca, dates back more than a century. They reclaimed the land where more than 540 hectares of Cannonau vineyards now stand. It is no coincidence that the wine’s uniqueness comes from the traditional and ancient process used to make it. The grapes are left to dry naturally in the sun for about twenty days on reed frames raised from the ground. According to ancient customs, the frames are covered every evening to prevent the grapes from being damaged by bad weather. The next step in the winemaking process is also unique, as it varies the fermentation temperature. The temperature is raised from 18 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius, then lowered to a temperature that stops fermentation. This vinification process aims to achieve a residual sugar content of 90 grams per liter. Before Anghelu Ruju can triumph on the table at the end of a meal, it spends a considerable amount of time in the cellar. The aging takes place in oak barrels for five years, a period of time that determines many of the wine’s structural characteristics. A further guarantee of this wine’s excellent quality is its characteristic longevity, which ranges from 10 to 15 years.